I have been studying Donald Duck for so long as I can consider. From month-to-month prints to particular editions only for Easter and Christmas, my web site is stuffed with a whole lot of Donald Duck papers.
I particularly benefit from the tales with Donald, his three nephews Tick, Trick and Truck (Huey, Dewey and Louie) and Uncle Dagobert (Uncle Scrooge). Their dialogue is splendidly witty and humorous, and their tales cowl subjects starting from jealousy, wealth and poverty, treasure hunts, robberies and witches to lazy and silly family members, holidays, conservation and the curse of recent expertise.
Not solely do Tick, Trick and Monitor know use their noggin, they usually rescue their uncles, however additionally they convey the values ​​of friendship and kindness. They’re heroes with out having to kill others.
Through the years I’ve discovered nice youngsters’s books by English-speaking authors, however my favourite books are those I grew up with. I re-read them at the very least every year. Simply final month I learn Die kleine Hexe (The Little Witch) in two hours. Though the newer editions embrace coloration illustrations, I nonetheless love my well-preserved 1957 black-and-white copy.
The e book was written by German-speaking Ottfried Preuler and teaches each overcome challenges with kindness and the significance of friendship. Die kleine Hexe is a few witch who lives together with her pal Abraxas, a wise and human-speaking raven, within the forest. She actually desires to have fun Walpurgis evening with the large witches.
However to enter their get together, she should show that she is an efficient witch. Over the course of a 12 months, below Abraxus’ light steerage to do the correct factor, she helps people and non-human beings, resembling horses crushed by their house owners, a poor girl attempting to promote paper flowers, and a spouse whose husband has misplaced all the things. Cash to bowling. She is going to develop as an individual by doing many good deeds.
One other e book I simply completed studying is Pippi Longstocking by Swedish writer Astrid Lyngren. Lindgren created many standard characters for youngsters, essentially the most well-known of which is Pippi, she is simply 9 years previous, she travels the world together with her father, she lives in a dilapidated home with out her dad and mom, however she carries a suitcase stuffed with monkeys, horses and suitcases. With gold cash, she would not go to high school, and he or she’s the strongest girl on the earth. She is all the time pleased, has an exquisite sort and courageous coronary heart, and exhibits us the values ​​of friendship and kindness. For her finest mates, siblings Thomas and Annika, she turns each occasion, procuring journey, procuring day or stroll into an thrilling journey.
One afternoon, Pippi, Thomas and Annika determine that they by no means need to develop up, as a result of adults are usually not enjoyable and all the time fear about issues like work and garments. Happily, PP has three “The Crumb Sport.” They seem like common peas however are literally pods. If you happen to say the correct method, you’ll stay a baby perpetually.
I am undecided I need to swallow a type of tablets in our twenty first century world dominated by smartphones, social media and helicopter dad and mom. Based on an article within the December 16, 2022 difficulty of The Week, we’re seeing excessive charges of hysteria, melancholy and suicide amongst America’s youngsters and adolescents.
One of many predominant drivers is smartphones and social media that educate youngsters that success and attractiveness are necessary. Consistently stunning photos of others may cause low shallowness. As a result of youngsters spend extra time on-line, they miss out on face-to-face contact with mates and different folks, thus feeling lonely. The second main downside is helicopter dad and mom who monitor their youngsters’s each transfer and attempt to defend them from stress. Though these dad and mom imply nicely, they stop their youngsters from turning into self-reliant and assured beings and from studying how to answer obstacles.
The Adventures of Tick, Trick and Trac, The Little Witch and Pippi present a extra fascinating childhood than what is obtainable right now. Their adventures remind me of the tales my mom used to inform me about her childhood. Again then, dad and mom and lecturers had been very strict, and other people weren’t as rich as they’re right now. Her mom rode her bike to the dentist and so they smelled their very own garments. Spending a while within the countryside at their aunt’s home was their solely summer season break. Not having a lot wealth, she and her sisters didn’t have many devices to assist themselves. As an alternative, they and their mates spent extra time outdoor and turned easy video games into enjoyable actions like taking part in ball, skipping rope, badminton, biking and snowboarding. I feel at the moment I used to be tempted to hitch Pippi in taking Krummeluspillen.
Mark, Method, Monitor, Little Witch, Pippi, Thomas and Annika present that being a child means utilizing your creativeness and taking part in with mates away from chaperones, smartphones and social media.
Sure, unhealthy issues occur on this world. However maybe that is precisely why we have to educate our kids that true friendship and kindness are extra necessary than success and recognition.
And like Abraha, we should information them in the correct route, trusting that they are going to overcome life’s challenges if we don’t continuously level the way in which.
Dr. Daniela Ribitsch is a resident of Lock Haven and teaches German at Lycoming School in Williamsport.
